Shoe presses



Nov. 19, 1957 Filed March 29 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .J. F. SMITH Nov, 19, 1957 SHOE PRESSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29. 1956 Nova. 19, 1957 J. F. sMn-H 2,813,281"

SHOE PRESSES Filed March 29, 1956 4 Sheets-$heet 3 v i Ma i am f i W NW. 3,, 1957 J. F. SMITH 2,313,281

SHOE PRESSES Film March 29, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet" 4 Y 1 1 L! L 1.3

Se C 05 a o e 0 ing soles on shoes.

United States PatentO 2,813,281 snon PRESSES Ja n Sm th, B a e Ma a sn to mp Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston, Mass, 21 corporation of Delaware Application March 29, 1956, Serial No. 574,738 16 Claims. (Cl. 12 ,-36.5)

This invention relates to machines for pressing soles on shoes, and relates more particularly to machines for adhesively attaching soles to shoes.

A Widely used machine for adhesively attaching soles to shoes consists of a conveyor having a plurality of spaced-apart shoe .presses,each of which includes an inflatable pressure applying pad. Thepresses are moved on the conveyor to a loading stationrwhere an operator removes completed shoes from the presses, inserts other shoes-to be processed in the presses, and restarts the con- .yeyor. Previously inflated pads are deflated just prior to their arrival at the loading station. Such a machine is disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,169,981.

A feature of the present invention is that the inflation .ofi-the pads is automatic, each pad being inflated to a definite predetermined pressure without dependence upon the judgment of an operator. All an operator has to do after a shoe has been placed in a press, is to momentarily depress a footpedal, following which a timer is started, and a relay is energized. The relay then energizes a solenoid which opens a valve admitting compressed air-into the pad at the loading station. When the timer times out, the relay and solenoid are deenergized, the air valve is closed, and the actuating coil of the conveyor motor starter is energiied, starting movement of the conveyor.

Another feature of this invention is that the valve contacting chuck of the inflation mechanismis caused to gently engage a pad valve under a relatively low air pressure, following which air under a relatively high pressure quickly inflates the pad. This permits a pad to be quickly inflated without damage to its valve.

Still another feature of this invention is that the pads are automatically deflated on their way back? to the loading station with less damage to the valve stems of the pads than is caused by conventional deflators. In one embodiment of the invention, a ribbed timing belt is stretched over a pair of rollers with the ribs extending outwardly. As the valves of the pads move overthe forward end of the timing belt, theirs tems contact the contact with the belt, closing its valve. The resiliency of thebelt greatly reduces the wear of the. valve stems. An object of this invention is to reduce the risk of errors in judgment of an operator of a machine for press- Another object of this invention is to reduce the wear on valve stems of pads of shoe presses. M

Other objects of this invention atre to automatically control the inflation of a pad'of a shoe press to a predetermined pressure, and then to start 2,813,281 Qatnted Nov. 19, 1 957 movement of the conveyor on which thepress is supported.

This invention will now be described with. reference to the annexed drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machineembodying this invention, the jacks (shoe presses) being omitted;

Fig. 2 is an end-view of the-machine of Fig; ;1 showing a jack at the loading station;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the inflation mechanism of the machine, viewed from-the rear of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an end view, partially in section of Fig; 3

Fig. 5 is a circuit schematic of the controls of'the-inflation mechanism and the conveyor starter;

Fig. 6 is a piping schematic of the inflation mechanism, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the timing belt.

The machine shown by Figs. '1 and 2 is more or less conventional except for the starting, inflation, and deflation features, and comprises generally, a conveyor 10 extending around end rollers 11 and 12, the rolleri'l2 being driven through abelt 13 by a conventional speed reducing unit 14 connected to an electric motor 15. The conveyor instead ofextending horizontally as is, customary, is inclined at an angle of about115 from horizontal to afford-better visibility when-unloading and loading a shoe, and to eliminate operator fatigue since itiis not necessary with this arrangementyfor an operator to bend over to see the position of a shoe and sole.

The conveyor has-the usual jacks shown 'byjFig, 2, supported thereon. Fig. 2 also shows a shoe assembly 17 in position on an inflatablepad 18. The machine has conventional BHdhOOdS 19, and aconventional activator- 20 for heat activating thermo-plastic adhesives on the shoe soles.

A foot pedal 21 adapted to be depressed by. an'operator of the machine, is connected by linkage 2 2 to an electric switch 23 (Fig. 5) in a switch box 2-4.

A pad deflation timing belt-26 is stretched around rollers 29 on the top of the machine alongside the path of travel of the jacks 16 on theirway to theyloaclin g station, and is so spaced. from the jacks that as the "latter move past the advancing end of the belt (the. right end of Fig. 7), valve stems 2 8 of valves of pads 18 contact the adjacent surface of the belt asthebelt moves over the right roller 29, depressing the valve stems when the adjacent surface of the beltadvances horizontally after leaving the right roller 29;. "Ihe ribs 27 extend transversely of the outer surface of the belt, the spaces between adjacent ribs being just sufficient to receivesthe valve stems. The belt is supported by auxiliary rollers 30 which are journalled in a pair of bars 31 which are urged forwardly by springs on bolts 36, the inner ends of which eXtendinto the bars 31, and the outer ends of which are secured to a support 34;. The belt 26 floats on the rollerslit), and is rotated by the valve stems.

As the jacks move past .the timing belt, their valves are fully opened by the depression of their valve; stems 28 by the belt so that their pads are deflated, this deflation continuing as long as. the valve stems contact the belt. The valve stemslosecontact with the belt-when they pass the left roller 29, and their valves; close so that theirpads are ready 'for -inflat -ion-in a followingoperation which.willbedescribed;

An inflation mechanism 36 is supported on the machine. to the right, on Fig. l of thebelt 26. It,consists, as shown by Figs. 3 and 4, of a chuck 37fof engaging the y o pad- A i nfl ih and onnected o e hu a t righ I-KUS aslee 348 hi@h.- .slidabl wade" ai P es ure owa ds the ri h r ausih h chuck to engage a valve, the sleeve beingmeturnahle 3 under pressure of a spring which is coiled around its left end, to retract the chuck. Between the left end of the sleeve and the left end of the spring 40 is a piston cup ALT When; compressed air-is admitted through fittings 42 and 43, it impacts the piston cup 41 and the inner surface of a-plug 45 in the right end of the sleeve 38, and starts movement of the sleeve to the right, causing the'chuck*37-to gently engage a valve 25. When the chuck hasfully engaged the'valve, a plunger 47 on the right end-of the plug 45 pushes back the valve stem 28 of the valve.

..-The inflation mechanism 36' is adapted to be moved forwardly a slight distance with each jack as the latter approaches and leaves the loading station, and for accomplishing this is'slidable along rods 48, this movement being opposed "by a coiled spring 49 around one of the rods. Each jack has an outwardly extending lug 50.which is adapted to engage one end of a dog 51, the other end of which is pivoted at 52 to the inflation mechanism. The dog 51 and lug contact when a jack approaches the loading station, causing the inflation mechanism: to move forwardly with the jack, with the chuckof the infiation mechanism in alignment with the. valve of the pad of the jack.

The inflation mechanism has the upper end of a lever 56 pivoted thereto, and which has a free lower end which is cut away to fit against a roller 57 which is journalled in the upper end of a lever 58, the lower end of which is journalled in the sides of a switch box 59, and connected to -a normally-closed motor stop switch (Fig. 5). When the inflation mechanism is moved along with a jack as described in the'foregoing, the levers 56 and 58 are moved to momentarily open the switch 60 which deenergizes the conveyor motor 15, the lower end of the lever 56 riding over the roller 57 and permitting the switch to re-close. -When the switch 60 is opened, the

conveyor coasts to a stop, a circuit to be described later, preventing the conveyor motor from starting when the switch,60 is re-closed. V. A stationary 'cam plate 54 has a sloping right end 64, quick-exhaust valve 65, fitting 66, flow-control valve 67, solenoid-operated valve 68 which is a three-way valve, fitting 69, tubing 70, fitting 71, regulator 72, cleaner 73 and valve 74 toa conventional source of compressed air which is not illustrated. 'A solenoid 75 operates the valve 68.

The quick-exhaust valve 65 is connected through an elbow 77 to a rnufller 78. The fitting 66 is also connected through tubing 79 to a pilot valve 80 which is also connected to the fitting 69 through tubing 81. The valve 80 is also connected through a check valve 82 to the fitting 63.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the switch 23 which is adapted to be closed by the foot pedal 21 (Figs. 1 and 2), is connected in series with energizing coil 83 of relay 84, secondary winding 85'of transformer 86, conductors 87 and 88, auxiliary,normally-closed switch 89, conductor 90, armature 91 of timer T, conductor 92 and normallyclosed safety-switch 93S, and when the switch 23 is closed it energizes the relay 84. It also energizes through its connection to conductors'92 and 93, the timer T which is of the automaticKre-set type. Armature 95 touches contact 97 when the relay 84.is energized, closing a holding circuit for the relay coil 83 and timer T when by the operator.

When the relay 84 is energized by the closing of the switch 23, its armatures 95 and 96 move against contacts 97 and 98 respectively, connecting energizing winding 99 of the solenoid 75, and an energizing winding 100 of a conventional counter, to the secondary winding 85. The solenoid 75 is thereby energized to open the valve 68 which first supplies a limited Volume of compressed air through the valves 68, 67 and 65, fitting 63, elbow 61 and tubing 62 into the inflation mechanism 36, causing its chuck 37 to advance and gently engage the valve of the pad of the jack at the loading station. During this action, a build-up of primary air pressure takes place, causing the pilot valve 80 to open and admit a relatively large volume of compressed air at full pressure to quickly inflate the pad. v

When the timer T times out, it moves its armature 91 away from its contact 105, opening the energizing circuit of the winding 83 of the relay 84, the armatures 95 and 96 of which then leave the contacts 97 and 98 respectively, opening the energizing circuits of the solenoid winding 99 and counter winding 100. The solenoid-operated valve 68 then closes and exhausts to atmosphere. The resulting drop of pressure in the line then causes the quick exhaust valve 65 to dump the air in the line, and permits the chuck 37 of the inflation mechanism to retract.

When the timer times out, its armature 91 on leaving the contact touches contact 109 in the energizing circuit of starter winding 110 of the conveyor motor 15, completing the energizing circuit of the motor starting winding 110, which circuit may be traced from one side of winding 85, through conductor 111, starter winding 110, conductor 112, normally closed switch 60, conductor 113, timer armature 91, conductor 92, switch 93S, and the other side of winding 85.

When the motor starting winding 110 is energized, it causes switches S1, S2, S3 and S4 to close. The switches S1, S2 and S3 connect the motor 15 to the supply lines L1, L2 and L3 respectively. The switch S4 closes a holding circuit which includes the normally-closed switch 60, normally-closed, hand-stop switch 116, contact 107, relay armature 96, conductor 92 and switch 938, and which maintains the energizing circuit of the motor starting winding 110 closed when the timer armature 91 leaves contact 109. By this time, the timer T will have been reset, opening the previously described circuit including the timer armature 91 and contact 109 for energizing the starting winding 110, but the holding circuit maintains the starting winding energized unless switch 60 or 116is opened. The switch116 is a hand-stop, safety switch, and as previously described, the switch 60- is opened by a jack approaching the loading station.

Although a jack approaching the loading station only momentarily opens the switch 69 as previously described, the quick re-setting or re-closing of the switch 60 cannot restart the conveyor motor 15, since when the holding circuit is opened, it loses control of the motor 15 through the winding 110 being deenergized and the switches S1S4 being opened.

.A hand-start switch 117 is provided for the operators convenience when unloading the machine as for the purpose of by-passing one or more jacks.

The switch 89 is opened when the switches S1S4 are closed, and deenergizes the relay 84for preventing the inflation mechanism from operating while the conveyor is being moved by the motor 15.

0 Operation 7 Normally, the operation is automatic, the only operations performed by an operator being to load and unload the machine, and to depress the foot pedal. Assuming a jack at the loading station has received a shoe, and that itslug 50engages the dog 51 of the inflation mechanism, when the foot pedal is depressed, the following operations take place automatically. The timer T is started, and the relay 84 is energized. The latter acts to energize the solenoid 75 which admits compressed air into the inflation mechanism 36. The latter gentl engages its chuck 37 with the aligned valve of the pad of the jack at the loading station. After the chuck has engaged the pad valve, the pilot valve 30 admits a larger volume of compressed air under greater pressure into the inflation mechanism, causing the aligned pad .to be quickly inflated.

By this time, the timer will have timed out and will have closed the energizing circuit of the conveyor motor, automatically starting the latter through the closing of switches 51-83. A holding circuit for maintaining the conveyor motor energized is established through switch S4.

When the conveyor motor starts, it causes the conveyor to move the jack at the loading station forwardly. After the jack has moved a short distance, the dog 51 on the inflation mechanism rides up the inclined surface of the cam plate 54, releasing the inflation mechanism from the jack, the inflation mechanism then being restored to its initial position ready to be engaged by the next jack.

The timing belt 26 automatically deflates the pad of each jack while it is on its way back to the loading sta tion. Just before a jack reaches the loading station, its lug 50 engages the dog 51 of the inflation mechanism which then moves forwardly with the jack a short distance and opens the switch 60 which opens the holding circuit for the conveyor motor, deenergizing the latter. The conveyor then coasts to a stop with the jack in alignment with the inflation mechanism, ready for the next cycle.

What is claimed, is:

1. In a shoe pressing machine having a movable carrier, a plurality of shoe presses on said carrier, each of said presses having an inflatable pad with a valve and a valve stem, and having means for holding a shoe on its pad, a station for loading and unloading shoes, an inflation mechanism for pushing back a valve stem and inflating its associated pad when its associated press is at said station, an electric motor for driving said carrier, a starter for said motor, and a switch adapted to be closed by an operator of the machine, the combination of a timer started by the closing of said switch, an inflation valve for admitting compressed air into said inflation mechanism, and means including said timer for opening said inflation valve for a predetermined period of time, and at the end of said period of time closing said inflation valve and energizing said starter.

2. The invention claimed in claim 1 in which the timer is automatically reset after said period of time but before being reset closes a circuit for energizing said starter and closes a holding circuit for maintaining said starter energized after said timer has reset, and opens the first mentioned circuit, in which means is provided for causing said mechanism to move a short distance with each press as it approaches the loading station, and in which a switch is provided which is momentarily opened by said movement of said mechanism for opening said holding circuit.

3. The invention claimed in claim 2 in which a pad deflator is provided, said deflator comprising a floating endless belt which is so arranged that said valve stems are pushed back by contact with the belt when their associated presses move past the belt.

4. The invention claimed in claim 3 in which the belt has transverse ribs on its outer surface, the ribs being so spaced apart that a valve stem can enter the space between adjacent ribs and move the belt.

5. The inventon claimed in claim 1 in which a pad deflator is provided, said deflator comprising an endless floating belt which is so arranged that said valve stems are pushed back by contact with the belt when their associated presses move past the belt.

6. The invention claimed in claim 5 in which the belt has transverse ribs on its outer surface, the ribs being so spaced apart that a valve stem can enter the space between adjacent ribs and move the belt.

7. The invention claimed in claim 1 in which the inflation mechanism includes a chuck for engaging said valves of said pads, and means including said inflation valve is provided for causing compressed air to move said chuck to gently engage a valve of a pad and for then causing compressed air under higher pressure to quickly inflate the last mentioned pad.

8. The invention claimed in claim 7 in which the timer is automatically reset after said period of time but before being reset closes a circuit for energizing said starter and closes a holding circuit for maintaining said. starter energized after said timer has reset, and opens the first mentioned circuit, in which means is provided for causing said mechanism to move a short distance with each press as it approaches the loading station, and in which a switch is provided which is momentarily opened by said movement of said mechanism for opening said holding circuit.

9. The invention claimed in claim 8 in which a pad deflator is provided, said deflator comprising a floating endless belt which is so arranged that said valve stems are pushed back by contact with the belt when their associated presses pass the belt.

10. The invention claimed in claim 9 in which the belt has transverse ribs on its outer surface, the ribs being so spaced apart that a valve stem can enter the space between adjacent ribs and move the belt.

11. In a sole pressing machine having a movable carrier, a plurality of shoe presses on said carrier, each of said presses having an inflatable pad with a valve and valve stem, and means for inflating the pads, the combination of means for deflating said pads comprising a floating endless belt arranged so that it is movable substantially parallel to the path of travel of said valves and is so spaced from said valves that as said valves pass said belt their stems are pushed back by contact with the belt.

12. The invention claimed in claim 11 in which the belt has transverse ribs on its outer surface, the ribs being so spaced that a valve stem enters the space between adjacent ribs and moves the belt.

13. The invention claimed in claim 1 in which the inflation mechanism includes a movable chuck, and in which means is provided for causing the compressed air when said inflation valve is first opened to first cause said chuck to gently engage a pad valve and push back its stem and for then causing the compressed air at a higher pressure to quickly inflate its associated pad.

14. The invention claimed in claim 13 in which the timer is automatically reset after said period of time but before being reset closes a circuit for energizing said starter and closes a holding circuit for maintaining said starter energized after said timer has reset, and opens the first mentioned circuit, in which means is provided for causing said mechanism to move a short distance with each press as it approaches the loading station, and in which a switch is provided which is momentarily opened by said movement of said mechanism for opening said holding circuit.

15. The invention claimed in claim 14 in which a pad deflator is provided, said deflator comprising a floating endless belt which is so arranged that said valve stems are pushed back by contact with the belt when their associated presses move past said belt.

16. The invention claimed in claim 15 in which the belt has transverse ribs on its outer surface, the ribs being so spaced that a valve stem can enter the space between adjacent ribs and move the belt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,169,981 Smith Aug. 15, 1939 

